Improvement in piers for bridges



' O. H. LILIENTHAL.

PIER FOR BRIDGES.

Pa,t6nt8d-NOV. Z9, 1870.

anal .%iate5 ml cam CHRISTIAN H, LILIENTHAL, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and makingpart of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Onnrs'rmx 1L LILIEXTHAL, of Yonkers, \Vestchester County and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Construction of 'Spiles or liers for Bridges, Wharvcs, and other purposes; and I do hereby declarethat the following, is a full description of thesame. I I

The nature of my invention consists in con'ibining with a wooden spile Well driven 'into the bed of the river, or other earthy foundation, a metal case of,

greater internal diameter than. the spile of timber, and then filling the intervening space between the shell or case and spilc fronrthe upper end, with a concrete of Roman or other cements and coarse gravel or broken stones; also, in combination with a spile thus constructed, a four-way meta-l cap, for the purpose-0t securing the girders thereto, in the construction of bridges and other structures.

But to describe my invention more particularly I will refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, the same letters of refercnce wherever they occur referring to like parts.

Figure 1 is a vertical cut-section ot' the spilc-and metal case, as filled in with the concrete of cement.

Figure 2 is a vertical view of the spile. I I

Figure 3 is a detached view of the metal girderplatc.

Figure 4 is a transverse cut-section of the spilc through line :i a, fig 2.

Letter A represents the wooden spile,which is'first driven into the bed of the river to any suitable depth for a solid foundation.

Overthis spile is then placed a metal case, B, which, according to the depth it is sunk into the bed of the river, is made in two, orthrec, or more sections, with a gradualtaper from the base to the top oi" the spile.

For the purpose of securing these sections together firmly, and with water-tight joints, a lodge, c, is formed on the inside of the upper edge oi each section of the metal case, and a flange, .(l, on the outer edge of the joint.

Upon this flange and against the ledge c the lower edge of the case next above is inserted or adjusted, and by means of bolts, E, through the flange F, on its lower and outer edge, and the flange D, the two sectionslarc firmly secured together.

It will be obvious that any number of sections may be united together by this means.

The lowermost one of these sections is intended to have a flange, G, formed on its outer lower edge, so as to give it a broad and solid support on the bed of the river; and is also made some three or .more timeslarger in internal diameter than the spilc of wood which it surrounds, with each section above gradually diminishing in diameter till the uppermost end of the case is only about twice the diameter of the spile.

On the inside of the outer case B is secured a thin sheet metal case, H, which extends down from the top of the spile to the nppcr'end of the first section of the outer case, or to any other point desired.

This inner case is arranged so as to leave an anspace, J, between it and the outer case.

This innercase will be-iusertcd from time to time as the sections of the outer case are secured together.

When the sections of the outer case are all bolted together, or any number of them sutlicicnt to form a column reaching to the surface of the water, a concrete of'ltoman or other ccment, and coarse gravel or broken stones, is filled into the space between the spile A and case B, as shown by the letter K. As the specific gravity. of the concrete is much greater than the mud and slime overlying the clayey, bed of the river,- and into which the spile has been driven, it will gradually settle down to the hard-pan, and thus, as it burdens, form a solid rock-like column or pier for the support of a. frame-work for bridges and other purposes.

. Letter L is a metal cap, adjusted on the upper end of the spile A, and filling the upper end of the case B", which has its upper edges formed into a four-way cap, M. i

The object of this formation is to admit of the locking together the girders for forming the bridge, andat the same timegiving them a firm and secure as well as solid support.

'It will be obvious that where a series of piers or spiles is used they may be connected together by diagonal braces of either metal of wood. secured by straps around the spiles or piers, or to the flanges where the sections of the outer case are bolted toget-her.

Having now described my invention, I will proceed to set forth what I claim. I do not claim broadly the inner cap, but

What 1 do claim, and desire to secure b Letters Patent ot' the United States, is-

1. In combinationwith the metal case 13, made in sections and joined together as set forth, the in ncr case H, forthc purposes hercinbciore described.

2. Incombination with the spile A the metal caps L and M, the former resting directly on the spile and case, as set forth.

CHRISTIAN H. LILIENTHAL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES L. BARRIT'J, FnAwKLrN Bmnrrr. 

